The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-07-21
The Woman's Relief Corps of America.
AN AUXILIARY TO THE GRAND ARMY; ITS
PURPOSE AND WORK.

which had just passed.
At first, the importance of the charitable
work, which must inevitably follow, as the
realized.
But with the earliest organization of vet
Grams in 81, came also little bands of women
to do what they could to assist their husbands
and fathers. Perhaps the object in view was
only to provide good supper for the 'boys,'
or better still to purchase flag to be proudly
carried through the streets at their ''tirst an
nual" parade.
1t was my fortune in the early part of 'GS to
be one of an energetic dozen of women in the
city of Portland, Maine, who had for the
grand center of interest the Portland Army
and Navy Union. Looking to-day on the vast
organization from Maine to California, known
as the Woman'> Relief Corps, how small SEEM
ed our efforts in those early days. But just as
all vast charities have small beginnings, so the
little bands, organized at first principally for
social purposes. have grown and developed
into vast systemiZcd charity, stretching its
broad arms into every State and territory in
the Union.
We did not realize in those early days the
work that would sometime fall to the hearts
and hands of the loyal women of America.
The cry of the soldiers widow and orphan had
not then made itself heard throughout the
length and breadth of our land. AS it has to-
day.
From 1StS onward, there have been large
numbers of associations formed under differ
cnt names. but with one object in view-to
assist the Grand Army of the Republic, rs
best they could. either socially or financially,
in aiding the INDECENT living, or in perpetual
ing the memory of the heroic dead, and par
tcularly in the preparations for observing
Memorial Day.
The ladies who worked so many years ago
to aid the small associations of old soldiers,
did their work in the most informal manner
possible, but it was reserved for the ladies of
BoswOrth Post, No. ., of Portland, to form
the first association which should adopt the
name of ''Relicf Corps" In May, 1869, Bos-
worth Relief Corps, No. l, was organized rs
auxiliary to Bosworth Post.
As in Antioch of old, the disciples of peace
Christians, so the name Relief Corps was given
to an organization of loyalty and love for the
veteran soldier.
This association in Maine admitted only
soldiers wives, widows, sisters. mothers and
daughters.
Ten years later, in April 1879, was formed at
Fitchburg the first corps in Massachusetts, and
| ~, :.J..
Afforded the nucleus of government for the
Massachusetts corps.
| In the eighteen years which have elapsed
since the first formation at Portland, various
| organizations of similar character have sprung
into existence.
They have done practically The same work
under different names, but the organization
known as the Woman's Relief Corps is the
only one which has been officially recognized
by the Grand Army of the Republic, and per-
mittcd to use the word auxiliary.
| 1t is in no derogation Of other organizations,
that l affirm, that through the women of east
ern Massachusetts was the work perfected and
Systemized to such a degree as to command
the attention of prominent members of the
Grand Army all over the country.
Massachusetts women recognizing the neet,
of more liberal spirit than that which animat-
ed the other organizations, opened the doors of
the order, and babe all the loyal women who
felt an interest in the work for the veteran
soldier, and who had not given aid or comfort
to the enemy, to enter and work with them.
They realized that the army nurse who gave
the dying boy OH the battle field cup of cold
water, was not asked if she had any relatives
in the war, and the wisdom of their course.
which provoked much criticism at the time, is
now unquestioned.
10 the admission of loyal women. is due
| much of the phenomenal success of the order
After Massachusetts women with characteristic
push, had begun forming corps in their own
state, other states rapidly fell into line, and In
1850 New Hampshire joined with Massachu-
sets i'll the formation of Il Union Band. In
1882 Connecticut joined the advancing column,
and III S'' Massachusetts had the proud sa.isfac-
ton of having her work adopted by the
National convention at Denver
| The Importance of systematize,l work for
the soldiers and their families did not burst all
at once OH the large hearted women of America.
But just As the work of women during the
war grew from the inexperienced hand scrap
ing INT into the gigantic proportions of the
sanitary commission, with its corps of capable
| nurses, SO the work of the relief corps has
gradually grown to its present magnitude.
With tens of thousands of Union Veterans
III iowly homes of want and need, with COM
rades who had touched elbows in hours of
peril dying in the almshouses; with the old
soldier, in the ''faded coat Of blue" tramping
through the land he fought to save, with health
| and ambition gone: with the lonely widow bv
| her ,larkcned hearthstone, ignorant in MANY
| cases of the law which should give her a pen
| sion; with the soldiers orphans tossed hither
| and yon like straws by the wind, and blown
pcrchancc into the lowest haunts of vice and
crime, surely the Kind and tender care Of
| woman was just as essential MS it was in the
| dark days from 61 to %.
Within the four years of the existence of the
National order, they have expended more than
S4O,O0O in charity, and turned over to posts
more than $3O,OOO.
VI this amount Massachusetts alone has ex-
pcIitieet over $4,000 and turned over to posts
about $4,000. The entire membership is now
over 5O,0O0 and Massachusetts has more than
D 1W members. This organization has not only
demonstrated the fact that women can preside
over large body of people with grace and dig
nifty, but it establishes Il fact of greater impor-
| lance, ilIasmuch as the business is transacted
with almost military precision and order.
All quarterly reports are expected promptly
| on time at Department and National Head
quarters, and any failure to comply with the
rules is instantly inquired into.
The financial part is conducted with the
strictest economy and all bills are promptly
paid.
Mr.. Joseph X. Dawson, of Philatelphis, who
furnishes badges for nearly every secret socie-
ty in the United States, states that no organiz-
alton pays its bills SO promptly as the W. r.
c. and in token Of his appreciation, he present.
ed each delegate to the National convention of
80 with silver badge.
AS the years 60 by the charitable work
must OF necessity increase, until the veterans
fall like the ripened grain, and the children
reach manhood and womanhood. But for the
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